Archive for September, 2010

Waterford, CT — Waterford Speedbowl’s 60th anniversary season turned out to be one for the record books for several reasons. Champions Taylor Martin (Bandolero’s) and Anthony Flannery (Legends Cars) already set Speedbowl records with their track title efforts, however nobody had a bigger season than SK Modified® competitor Keith Rocco.

Rocco, of Wallingford, clinched the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national championship with a win at the Speedbowl back on August 14, the first driver from the track to claim that prestigious honor, then continued his hot season all the way to the SK Modified® track championship – his first in the division. Rocco was also the 2004 Sportsman (Street Stock) division champion. The second generation racer secured the title in last Saturday’s event over Ron Yuhas Jr. of Groton, the 2009 division champion, with one points event remaining. To date, Rocco’s 10 wins this year are a single season record for the SK Modified® division. The division debuted at the track in 1985.

The Pane owned, Rocco-piloted #57 Troyer racecar got off to a red-hot start. Rocco took the season opening 60-lapper at the Budweiser Blastoff event then went on to win another four of the next five events. That streak bolted Rocco out to a lead in the points he’d never look back on. He has a current 20-race streak of top-ten finishes going. The potent combination of wins and consistency overpowered some tough competition in the division. Yuhas has not had a finish worse than ninth all season to date, yet Rocco’s performances have trumped that impressive effort.

Claremont, N.H. — Twin State Speedway officials are hard at work preparing for the third annual 2010 “Fall Challenge” at the historic Claremont, N.H., race track with drivers from all over the Northeast expected to enter the third annual event that will close out the local racing season. The two-day special is scheduled for Oct 16 & 17.

10 divisions of racecars will compete including a return of the popular Modified Racing Series for the third consecutive year. “We are delighted to add the series to the schedule,” said operations manager Mike Parks. “When they lost a race to rain earlier we saw the opportunity to bring them in. It’s nice to have our track as part of the series championship run again.” The touring division will compete in a 100-lap green-flag feature.

Along with the ground-pounding 600 horse-powered modifieds, this year’s season finale will have a different twist. The addition of dirt Sportsman-Modifieds, from Bear Ridge and Canaan Fair Speedways are on the schedule. Dirt modified racing on asphalt has become very popular in the Northeast. Said Parks, “It’s something we want to try. See what kind of support there is. I am confident we will have enough interest and competitors to put on a good race.”

Brockton, MA — The third season for the Northeastern Midget Association’s “Lites” division will come to an end Oct. 9-10 at Seekonk Speedway’s D.Anthony Venditti Memorial. It brings to a finish a very competitive campaign that has produced eight different winners, most of them in the DAV field.

Anthony Nocella, who prevailed at last year’s DAV and at this year’s Boston Louie Memorial, is among a group of 2010 winners that also includes Jim Santa Maria, Jesse State, Todd Bertrand, Paul Luggelle, Eddie LeClerc, Jr., Bethany Viets and Randy Cabral. The 15-year old Santa Maria comes to the DAV off a Seekonk win on Sept. 12.

In pursuit of a third-straight NEMA championship, Cabral will again be doing double duty. A traditional stop for NEMA, the 25-lap feature, part of a busy DAV agenda, will have a direct result on the championship. Cabral currently trails leader Russ Stoehr by a scant 22 points.

Stafford Springs, CT — Robert “Michigan Bob” Alderton, Regional Manager for CARQUEST Belts & Hose, has been named as the Grand Marshal of Stafford Motor Speedway’s 38th annual CARQUEST Fall Final Weekend. As Regional Manager for CARQUEST Belts and Hose, Alderton is responsible for the entire Northeast from the Dakotas to Maine and as far south as St. Louis, covering 12 CARQUEST Distribution Centers. Alderton will give the command to send the Whelen Modified Tour on its way with the most famous words in motorsports and he will also indulge his inner motorcycle enthusiast by being part of the pre-race pace laps by riding a 2010 Harley-Davidson courtesy of TSI Harley-Davidson.

“It was very surprising that I got the call to do this for a second time,” said Alderton. “It’s a huge honor for me and I’m looking forward to seeing the Whelen Modified Tour cars race again.”

Kyle McGowan, an 18-year old high school senior and fourth generation starter from Wall Stadium, will serve as the honorary starter for the 38th Annual CARQUEST Fall Final Weekend. McGowan will wave the green flag to send the Whelen Modified Tour on its way for 150 laps. McGowan began his flagman career at the tender age of 5 and he currently serves as the assistant starter at Wall Stadium and he has flagged at Atlantic City and the North-South Shootout.

Daytona Beach, FL — The next-to-last race of the 2010 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour season is slated for Sunday, Oct. 3 with the CARQUEST Fall Final at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway.

At Stafford Motor Speedway:
History
• The Stafford Springs Agricultural Park opened in 1870 … The current race track was originally used for horse racing, which gave way to automobiles after World War II.
• Stafford Motor Speedway became a NASCAR track in 1959 and was paved in 1967.
• The NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour has held 97 races at SMS since the Tour began in 1985 … The NWMT has run there every year of its existence, except for 1988.
• The 97 all-time NWMT races at SMS rank second only to the 111 held at Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway.

Notebook
• There have been 30 different race winners at SMS, led by Mike Stefanik’s 20 victories.
• There have been 37 different pole winners at SMS, led by Stefanik’s 15.
• Ted Christopher, Bobby Santos and Todd Szegedy have won the first three races of the year at SMS.
• Santos earned the first two poles of the year at SMS and set the track pole record in the Spring Sizzler … Ron Silk earned his first SMS pole in the August race.
• The preliminary entry list for the CARQUEST Fall Final includes nine drivers who have won at SMS during their careers.

Waterford, CT — As Rob Janovic Jr. puts the finishing touches on another top finish in the Waterford Speedbowl’s SK Modified® season standings, the 2007 champion also looks ahead to the year’s final – and biggest – race of the year. The 14th annual Budweiser Modified Nationals takes center stage October 8-10 as part of the track’s Finale Weekend. The weekend of racing hosts 10 divisions including the SK-150, which pays the winner $5,000.

Janovic currently sits third in the division standings, buoyed by another season of consistency. The Waterford native comes off a recent streak of five 3rd place finishes out of six Saturday night 35-lap features. He hopes that same late season effort carries over to the 150, where he’s been shut out of the top ten the past five times in the race. Janovic still seeks his first triumph in the Mod Nationals.

“It seems we always run into some type of trouble in the 150” according to Janovic. “The 51 has been real fast the last half of this season, so I’m looking forward to turning my fortune around in the Modified Nationals”.

Waterford, CT — Waterford Speedbowl’s annual Finale Weekend is fast approaching under two weeks away, October 8th-10th. A total of 10 feature races will take to the track over the weekend offering fans a variety of close competition and exciting racing amongst a host of divisions.

The 14th annual Budweiser Modified Nationals 150-lap SK Modified® race takes center stage Sunday, October 10th boasting total prize money of over $20,000. The race winner walks away $5,000 richer, the biggest payday across the Northeast for the division. Not to be overshadowed, the ACT Late Model Tour closes their season and points battle at the Speedbowl in a 150-lap race of their own on Sunday with posted awards of greater than $28,000. The duo of ground pounding Modifieds and best in Late Model racing throughout New England and beyond make the weekend a must-see for any racer and race fan.

A 50-lap Street Stock Showdown, an Outlaw Mini Stock Madness event and Outlaw Stock race are also on the weekend schedule with $500 going to each race winner. The popular 25-lap Outlaw Stock race is back again in 2010 and welcomes most any rear-wheel drive American made car or truck with at least a 104” wheelbase from across New England’s short tracks. Engine rules are a steel block, steel heads, and any single carburetor.

Stafford Springs, CT — With the 38th Annual CARQUEST Fall Final Weekend upon us this weekend, Stafford young guns Tommy Barrett, Jr. and Matt Galko are separated by only 6 points, or three positions on the racetrack, in the chase for the 2010 SK Light Modified track championship. Galko has been at the front of the points standings from June until the Final Friday Night-Shoot-Out on Sept. 17th, where a Barrett victory combined with Galko wrecking out of the race, put Barrett at the top of the standings heading into this weekend.

“It’s been really frustrating with three wrecks in the last four races for us,” said Galko. “But there’s nothing that we can do except to learn from what happened and move onto the next race. We do what we need to do at the shop during the week to have the car ready and we’re going to go for the win this weekend. The pressure is totally off of us now that we’re not leading the points. We’re having fun at the shop working on the car and it would be a pretty cool way to end the year by winning the CARQUEST Fall Final.”

Stafford Springs, CT — As the SK Light Modified cars take to the Stafford Motor Speedway asphalt one last time during the 38th Annual CARQUEST Fall Final Weekend, the division will have one of its winningest drivers back in the starting field. Brit Andersen, who won 13 SK Light races in three seasons of competition, will return to the track in his family owned #70.

“I’m really looking forward to getting back in the car,” said Andersen. “I didn’t even know I was going to be driving it until last Thursday.” Andersen has his sights set on taking the checkered flag and beating Tommy Barrett, Jr., who has won an astounding 10 races this season, and to prove that his car is still the best SK Light in the field.

“We’re coming back to win the race and beat Tommy Barrett,” said Andersen. “We’re looking to either run the car with another driver next season or we are going to sell the car, so we want to show everyone that it is still the best car in the division. It’s going to be kind of like Ryan Newman racing the Whelen Modified Tour, we’re focused on winning the race. Tommy, Joey Cipriano, and Matt Galko are all fast cars so it’s going to be tough, but I know how I race and I’ve seen how they race. I know there has been some great races at Stafford this season, but I think our race is going to be the best race of the entire season.”Continue reading ‘Brit Andersen Returning to Stafford’s SK Light Ranks for CARQUEST Fall Final Weekend’

Seekonk, MA — Fifteen year old Jim Santa Maria, from Burlington CT, driving the #99 Hawk/Ford Focus owned by Susan Santa Maria came from sixth starting spot to score his first NEMA Lites feature win at the Cement Palace on Friday September 24th.

After battling with NEMA champ Randy Cabral and chasing pole starter Lanson Fornoro (who was outstanding in the Luggelle #00, leading the first 19 laps), Santa Maria made a bold move to the inside of Fornoro as they approached heavy lap traffic in the final corner.

When the checkard flag fell Santa Maria came out on top with Fornoro an impressive, but disapointing 2nd. Young NY high school basketball standout Michael Muldoon squeezed by Cabral for third. Cabral and Russ Wood jr. rounded out the top 5.

Riggs Racing Driver Finishes Third and is Only Three Points Out of Point Lead Heading Into Season Finale at Charlotte Motor Speedway

Hampstead, NH — Less than one lap into Saturday night’s NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour race at Tri-County Motor Speedway near Hudson, North Carolina, it looked like Andy Seuss’ hopes of becoming the 2010 NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour champion could have been finished. But neither Seuss nor his #47 Q Racing Oil / Rockingham Boat team of Riggs Racing gave up and they were able to stay right in the middle of the championship battle.

Seuss started the race in the seventh position – right in between championship rivals James Civali and L.W. Miller. On the first lap, Miller made contact with the rear of Seuss’ car, which sent him for a spin right in front of the field – continuing a long-time feud between the two drivers that has flared up with Seuss being involved in wrecks and spins at Caraway Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Ace Speedway among other tracks in the past.

“That was nothing new,” said Seuss. “Some people, you just can’t race with. But fortunately, I didn’t hit anything and nobody else hit me, so we were able to keep going and not give up.”

Hickory, NC — The PASS South Super Late Models headed to the Hickory (NC) Motor Speedway for the “Over the Mountain 150” Saturday, September 25th, 2010. Heading into the night’s action, Ryan Blaney held a six-point advantage over Preston Peltier for the series championship. Both racers showed why they are battling for the top honors as Peltier went to victory lane with Blaney crossing the line second, shrinking Blaney’s lead to just four points heading into the final race of the season.

“It is going to come down to the last lap at Newport,” said Peltier in victory lane. “If he gets the championship, he will deserve it. If I get it, I will deserve it. I just hope it is exciting.”

For the sixth time this season, Andy Loden was the driver at the top of the charts during qualifying. As it was last race at North Wilkesboro Speedway (NC), Loden’s #29 machine set a new record during the session, this time a new track record at Hickory Motor Speedway for the PASS South Super Late Model series with a 14.713-second lap.Continue reading ‘Peltier PASS South Hickory winner’

Brockton, MA — Jim Miller has been around long enough to know making predictions is folly. The 25-year veteran heads into the Northeastern Midget Association traditional season-enders – Seekonk Speedway DAV Memorial Oct. 9-10 and Thompson Speedway’s World Series Oct. 15-17 – with his usual strategy.

“I race from week-to-week” he says. “I race as hard as I can with what I have and, in the end, I take what I get.” A checkered flag at either would be sensational for the three-time NEMA winner, the last coming at Oxford Plains, ME in 2001.

Miller is part of the often unsung corps that forms NEMA’s strength. At the point where “there is nothing I have to prove to myself,” the 54-year old carpenter nevertheless comes into the final two races hoping to cap off a “decent” season with a strong top-seven finish in the point standings. He finished eighth in 2009, his first season after a seven-year hiatus. That “stat” is clouded, however, because he gave up his car at the Marilyn’s Passion race to Russ Stoehr.

Annually an important event in shaping the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship picture, the CARQUEST Fall Final at Stafford (Conn.) Motor Speedway on Sunday, Oct. 3 will once again go a long way toward deciding the 2010 title.

As the penultimate race of the 2010 season, the Fall Final will have many championship implications. Donny Lia’s win in last year’s event solidified his title hopes, which marked the seventh time the eventual champion won the Fall Final.

The 2010 Fall Final – the 25th time the Whelen Modified Tour has participated in Stafford’s season-ending race weekend – will feature an extremely tight points battle as first and second are separated by single digits, and fourth place is less than 100 points out.

Seekonk, MA — The cars and stars of the Lee USA Speedway, Small Block Super Modified Series are anxious to travel south to the Bay State to compete for the first time at the “Cement Palace”, at Racing Against Breast Cancer, this Saturday October 2nd. Lead by 2010 Small Block Super Modified Champion, #98, Thomas Tombarello, Jr., the Small Block Super Modifieds are expecting a near full field to compete at the Bay State Oval.

“I’m really looking forward to this as are all the Lee guys to race at Seekonk and to support such a great cause”, said Tom from the family owned campground in Madbury, NH. Although he is competing 100 miles from his home track in another state, Tom’s rookie appearance at the famed Bay State oval will be greeted by many local fans. “We have many Providence, RI area campers who stay with us, who are planning on attending the race to help cheer me on”, added Tombarello.

Tom’s Championship comes after his only 2nd year in competition in a small block super modified, which is also the only type of racing and the only type of race car he has driven. Tom was very quick to credit ISMA regular Justin Belfiore, who also drives the #98 in ISMA, for pointing him in the direction of the small block super modifieds. ‘Justin is my brother-in-law, mentor and best friend”, said proudly by Tombarello.

Thompson, CT — On a blustery Sunday, the 2010 champions were crowned in all six NASCAR Whelen All-American Series divisions at Thompson International Speedway. The evening also featured what would ultimately be the fourth leg of the Tour-Type Modified Shootout originally scheduled for August 5, 2010. Mike Stefanik of Coventry, RI, who crossed the stripe in second, was declared the winner of the event after post race technical inspection.

In NASCAR Whelen All-American Series action Ronnie Silk of Norwalk, CT, turned in a dominating performance to score his first victory of the season in the Sunoco Modifieds. Ted Christopher of Plainville, CT, by virtue of his dominating season, had sewn up the championship prior to the start of the night’s events. Mike O’Sullivan of Springfield, MA, made it a run to the end in the chase for the Super Late Model championship by winning the event. His rival Derek Ramstrom chased him to the checkers to secure the 2010 divisional title-his second straight.

In the Late Models, Tom O’Sullivan of Springfield, MA, made winning a family affair as he posted the feature victory. Rick Gentes of Woonsocket, RI, wore the 2010 Late Model crown. Scott Sundeen of Douglas, MA, bested the field in the Limited Sportsman division in an attempt to dethrone Larry Barnett. He won the battle but it was Barnett of Moosup, CT, winning the war with his second straight divisional title. Keith McDermott of Scituate, RI, ran to the victory in the TIS Modifieds taking the victory from the 2010 champion R.J. Marcotte of Millville, MA. In the Mini Stocks it was Dwayne Dorr of Ledyard, CT, posting the feature victory while Chuck Rogers of Quaker Hill earned the championship.

Seekonk, MA — Following a three week break in the schedule, the Modified Racing Series, sponsored by Bob Valenti AutoMall.Com, returns to action October 9, & 10, when the famed Seekonk, Speedway, Seekonk, MA., features it’s annual two-day D.Anthony Venditti Fall Classic. Again this year, the Seekonk event kicks off the final three races of the season with a hotly contested battle-taking place for the 2010 series championship. The chase to the title will also include races at Twin State Speedway, Claremont, NH., and Lee USA Speedway, Lee, NH., later this month.

Defending series champion, Jon McKennedy, of Chelmsford, MA, a winner at Seekonk last year, brings a brand new racecar into the mix and a 17-point lead over 2006 series champion, Dwight Jarvis, of Ascutney, Vermont. Rowan Pennink, of Huntingdon Valley, PA., is 33 points back, in third, with Windsor Locks, CT., veteran Les Hinckley, currently fourth, 42 points out of first place.

The car owners points battle is also competitive with veteran owner Gary Casella, of Saugus, MA., the head of Roscoe Racing (#25) holding a slim 9 point lead over McKennedy, owner of the (# 73) race team. CMR car owner Chuck Montville (#06) and Bonnie Jarvis, owner of Jarvis Motorsports, (# 28) are tied for third, 51 points from the top spot.

St-Felicien’s Karl Allard claimed the win in the St-Eustache 300 and the 2010 Série ACT Castrol Edge Championship after a wild green-white-checkered finish at Autodrome St-Eustache on Sunday, September 26. Allard took the lead after leaders Patrick Laperle and Jonathan Urlin wrecked coming to the white flag. Laperle and Urlin ended up in the front stretch wall before the start-finish line as Allard snuck through on the low side. Allard took the white flag while the rest of the field took the yellow and white flags.

Daniel Descoste made it through the mayhem to earn second while Laperle and Urlin were unofficially scored in third and fourth respectively, as the final two cars on the lead lap. Stephane Descoste finished fifth, the first car down one lap. Alex Labbe earned the Rookie of the Year title with his sixth place finish. Claude Leclerc, David Michaud, Gaetan Lauzier and Donald Theetge completed the top ten.

Allard’s sixth win of the 2010 season was enough to earn him the 2010 Série ACT Castrol Edge Championship over Laperle by 34 points, unofficially.

Winchester, NH — The New England Truck Series (NETS), second to last points race at Monadnock Speedway’s finale this past Saturday, resulted with another first place winner in NETS opening season.

The # 83 FEB Construction sponsored Chevy, of Gee Perry of Grandby CT, took the checkered flag for his first NETS win this season.

The points battle going on is between the #16 of Willy Auchmoody, and the # 3 of Andy Lindeman for positioning of the championship race at Thompson. The second points battle going on is between the #83 of Gee Perry, and # 85 of Greg Butler Jr. for positioning of the final race for third.

Seekonk, MA — For the first time since June 25, 2005, the fastest short track cars in the world are set to invade The Action Track of the East. On Saturday, October 2, the ISMA Supers will compete in a 100 lap event at Seekonk Speedway.

Kraze Korlacki Speed Equipment, located in Case Avenue in Seekonk has stepped up to the plate, and put together a schedule of events, in a Race Against Breast Cancer. October has been named Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Gary Sagar wanted to do his part in helping create awareness.

Former NASCAR Camping World Truck Champion, Johnny Benson has been signed to drive one of Brad Lichty’s cars for this event, marking the first time that Benson has been at the famous 1/3 mile oval. “I have never seen Seekonk Speedway, but I am aware of its rich racing history. Many of the ISMA teams tell me it is one of their favorite tracks. I am excited about competing at the famed “Cement Palace”, which should be a lot of fun while supporting a great cause in the fight against Breast Cancer”, said Benson from his race shop in Charlotte.

Waterford, CT — A full evening of NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racing was held at Waterford Speedbowl Saturday night, with six races on tap including twin 20-lap features for the A.B. CDL Driver Training Center Truck division on Truck night. Kyle James of Ashaway, RI drove a great race to claim his first career SK Modified® win. Keith Rocco of Wallingford used a third place finish to clinch the division track championship and finish off his sensational season. Tim Jordan of Plainfield won his fourth Bob Valenti Auto Mall Late Model feature. Brandon Plemons of Uncasville was the Street Stock winner, his second checkered flag of the year. Waterford native Chris Williams won the Norwich Bulletin Mini Stock feature, another second time winner in 2010. Allen Coates of Ledyard and Howard Payne of Shelton split the A.B. CDL Driver Training Center Truck races.

The 35-lap SK Modified® feature had James and Tyler Chadwick racing for control at the drop of the green flag, with James taking the top spot. Caution waved on lap-2 when dirt was kicked up on the racing surface as Dennis Charette got off course in turn four.

James led through two restarts before Rob Janovic Jr. rocketed his way to third over Joe Perry. Janovic immediately went to work on Chadwick who had tucked in second position behind James. Rocco got around the outside of Perry for fourth to join the chase up front. James stretched his lead over the three-way battle for second between Chadwick, Janovic and Rocco to seven lengths when caution on lap-10 erased his advantage.

Hudson, NC — Burt Myers passed John Smith with five laps remaining en route his first win of the season Saturday in the Tri-County 150. It was the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour’s first visit to Tri-County Motor Speedway.

It is Myers’ seventh career win and first since he was credited with a victory as the highest finishing NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour driver in the combination race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in Sept. of 2009.

Smith wound up second, followed by Andy Seuss in third. Brandon Hire finished fourth and James Civali fifth.

Marne, MI – In 1999, modified ace Ted Christopher climbed aboard a Paul Dunigan –owned supermodified for the first time ever. It was at Thompson Speedway. He started dead last. He won. Saturday at Berlin Raceway in Michigan, Ted climbed into the Clyde Booth 61 for the first time, at a track he’d never seen before, started dead last and won! As Ted put it in victory lane, he was two for two in his supermodified competition. Not a bad record to say the least. But put the Plainville, CT driver in a good car – in any division – and he’ll race it to the max, even the tough, ultra fast, winged supermodifieds. Although new to the Midwest crowd, those who had seen the ultra-talented shoe race from modifieds to full-bodied NASCAR cars and anything in between, were not surprised.

Christopher was overjoyed after his second career ISMA supermodified win in as many outings. “This is a great track. It was fun racing. This is the second time I’ve run a supermodified for somebody for the first time, started dead last and have won.

His expectations, after a dnf in his heat were tenuous. “I was hoping we’d get a couple yellows because we had a problem in the heat race and started at the end of the field. I thought if I got a couple yellows, it would bunch the field up and I’d see what happened. These cars are really different. When I got up close to another car it would take the air out and just make the car push. So I tried a couple ways to pass people with it and finally caught up and passed Mike. I’d like to thank Clyde and Susan Booth for the ride. They really do a good job with this car. I’d also like to thank CorrPak for putting up some extra money for this race and for the crowd for coming out despite the cold.”

It was with mixed emotions that I received the news this past week that Warren Kluthau went home to be with the Lord. I was glad he was home, without pain and suffering, but I was saddened to know I would have to wait a while to talk with him again. Through the years Warren has always been close to RWJM and during the time he battled for his life he came to know the grace of God. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I remember the day Warren called with the news that he was facing a terminal illness. In life we all are certain of one thing, death. But we would like to see it come when we have lived a full life. That is not always the case. Warren shared with me his plan was to beat the odds, he would fight with everything he had.

He spent days in a come only to come out and live again. With the new lease he had been given he thanked God and vowed to proclaim His glory. During one call he asked if he could ride in the RWJM pace car at the Turkey Derby. I said yes and you could see the smile through the phone.

Stafford Springs, CT — As the 2010 season comes to a close at Stafford Motor Speedway with the 38th Annual CARQUEST Fall Final Weekend, scheduled for October 1st thru October 3rd, the Late Model championship race comes down to two hometown drivers, Ryan Posocco and Woody Pitkat. When it comes to racing at Stafford, Posocco and Pitkat share a lot in common. Posocco leads Pitkat by 6 points heading into the final race of the season, and both drivers recently won their 50th career feature event at Stafford after beginning their Stafford careers in the DARE Stock division.

Pitkat reached the 50-win milestone two weeks ago by winning both the SK Modified® and Late Model feature events in the same night while Posocco reached the plateau one week ago by winning the Late Model feature.

Stafford Springs, CT — After leading the Whelen Modified Tour points standings for most of the 2010 season, Bobby Santos, III heads to Stafford with a 7-point advantage over 7-time series champion Mike Stefanik. Stefanik has cut almost 80 points off of Santos’ point lead over the past several tour events, but Santos says he and his team feel confident at the top of the standings heading into Stafford’s 38th Annual CARQUEST Fall Final Weekend.

“We feel really confident heading to Stafford,” said Santos. “With the exception of a spin, I think we could have won the Spring Sizzler and we won at Stafford in May. There’s no reason why we can’t run like we did in the Spring at the Fall Final. I think it’s better to be ahead rather than behind, so we’d much rather be where we are leading the points instead of having to make up points. The way we look at the year, we’ve had 12 races so far and we’ve thrown away three of them, so hopefully we have all our bad luck for the season behind us and we can get back to where we were earlier in the season.”

Santos and the Mystic Missile team have compiled an impressive record at Stafford this season, winning two pole positions to go along with a victory and a second place finish. A blown engine in the August race at Stafford kept Santos and his team from contending for another victory and relegated them to a 23rd place finish. Stafford has also been a good track for Santos’s two main championship rivals, Mike Stefanik and Ted Christopher, who between them, have won over 140 times at Stafford.

The New England Truck Series (NETS), will be participating this Saturday September 25, in Monadnock Speedway’s Finale Race program in Winchester NH, along with several other touring series in attendance. The points battle will be on between the Chevy powered Wells Communication sponsored #3 truck of Andy Lindeman of Poestenkill NY, and the #16 Chevy powered Lee Boy Construction Equipment sponsored truck of Willy Auchmoody of Highland NY, with a few points difference between them for the lead.

The second battle going on is between the East Hampton Auto Parts sponsored Chevy truck #85 of Greg Butler Jr. of East Hampton CT, against another Chevy powered FEB Construction sponsored truck #83 Gee Perry of Grandby CT, with a one point difference for third in the points.

The third battle going on, with a ten point lead for fifth in the points is between the Dan Engwer Wholesale Florist sponsored Chevy truck of Derek Chriss #12 of Averill Park NY, competing against Dave’s Automotive Enterprises sponsored Chevy truck # 6 Craig Cashman of Marlbough NH.Continue reading ‘NETS Races Monadnock’s Finale’